Extreme weather displacement: UNICEF

• According to estimates released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), over the last six years, weather-related disasters have forcefully displaced at least 134.1 million people.
  • 20,000 children were displaced every day on an average during 2016-2021.
  • UNICEF officially United Nations Children’s Fund is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.
• Storms (21.2 million) and floods (19.7 million) have been the most damaging and accounted for 95 per cent of forced child displacements in this period. 

• Region with maximum weather-related child displacements: East Asia and the Pacific, followed by South Asia.
  • Over 53 per cent (23 million) of the children displaced were in three countries – Philippines (9.7 million), India (6.7 million) and China (6.4 million). 

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Context:

• Despite persistent demands by Adivasi organisations, 59% of India’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) remain outside the purview of Article 244.

What are the Scheduled Areas?

• India’s 705 ST communities, making up 8.6% of the country’s population live in 26 States and 6 Union Territories.

• Article 244: Administration of Scheduled and Tribal Areas. 
  • Articles 244(1) provides for the application of Fifth Schedule provisions to Schedule Areas notified in any State other than the Sixth Schedule states viz. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. 
  • At present there are 10 States in the 5th Schedule namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana.
• Tribal Areas: Generally refer to regions predominantly inhabited by tribal communities. These areas may or may not be officially designated as Schedule Areas.

What is the administration of Scheduled areas in India?

• The President of India notifies India’s Scheduled Areas. 
• States with Schedule Areas need to constitute a Tribal Advisory Council with up to 20 ST members. 
  • They will advise the Governor on matters referred to them regarding ST welfare. 
• The Governor can also make regulations for a Schedule Area and regulate the allotment of land to STs and money-lending to STs.
  • The Governor will then submit a report every year to the President regarding the administration of Schedule Areas.

Demand for Notifying Schedule Areas

• Around 59% of India’s STs remain outside the purview of Article 244 leading to persistent demands by Adivasi organisations for notifying these places as scheduled areas.
  • For instance, In 2015, Kerala proposed to notify five gram panchayats and two wards in five districts. It awaits the Indian government’s approval.
• In 1995, the Bhuria Committee, constituted to recommend provisions for the extension of panchayat raj to Schedule Areas, recommended including these villages, but this is yet to be done. 

News Source: The Hindu

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Context:

• The Law Commission report on the age of consent under the POCSO Act was submitted to the Law Ministry. The Justice J.S. Verma Committee had suggested lowering the age of consent under the POCSO Act to 16 years.

What is the POCSO Act?

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development 
• Objective: Protect children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography and provide for establishment of Special Courts for trial of such offences. 
• Amendment: POCSO Act was amended in 2019, to make provisions for enhancement of punishments to deter the perpetrators and ensure safety, security and dignified childhood for a child.
• Definition of Child: POCSO Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and regards the best interests and well-being of the child. 

Law Commission Recommendations on Age of Consent:

• Age of Consent: Government should retain the existing age of consent i.e. 18 years.The panel said that reducing the age of consent would have a direct and negative bearing on the fight against child marriage and child trafficking.
• Guided Judicial Discretion: In the matter of sentencing in cases involving tacit approval of children in the 16-18 age bracket.
  • The panel also advised courts to be cautious as criminal intention may be missing in certain cases as adolescent love cannot be controlled.
• Reporting Crime in Real Time: Rolling out registration of e-FIRs in a phased manner and setting up a centralised national portal to facilitate registration of e-FIRs.

News Source: The Indian Express

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Context:

• Sri Lanka is set to take over the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) during the 23rd Council of Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for October, 2023, in Colombo.

What is the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)?

• The  Indian Ocean Rim Association is an intergovernmental organization established in 1997, comprising 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners.
• Indian Ocean Rim Association Member Countries
  • Asia: India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
  • Africa: Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia , South Africa, Tanzania, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles.
  • Oceania: Australia.
  • Europe: France
• Dialogue partners: China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, Turkiye, United Kingdom and United States of America.
• Secretariat: Ebène, Mauritius
• IORA’s apex body is the Council of Foreign Ministers (COM) which meets annually.

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) assumed the role of Chair from November 2019 – November 2021, followed by the People’s Republic of Bangladesh November 2021 – November 2023.
• Sri Lanka will hold the chairmanship of the association from 2023 to 2025. 
• Significance for India:  The association plays a pivotal role in advancing India’s strategic, economic, and diplomatic interests in the Indian Ocean.
• Concern: The  Indian Ocean Rim Association also coincides with reports with a possible visit of Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6 to Sri Lanka. India and the U.S. have reportedly raised the matter with Sri Lanka.

News Source: The Hindu

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Context:

• The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2022-23  was recently released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

What is a Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?

• Launched by: National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)  in 2017.
• Objective: To estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators in:
  • Short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ (CWS). Both ‘Usual Status’ (ps+ss) and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.
• The key employment and unemployment indicators are definedin periodic labour force survey, as: 
  • Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.
  • Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
  • Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labor force.

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What are the key highlights from the periodic Labour force survey 2022-2023?

• LFPR Status in Periodic Labour Force Survey
  • In rural areas, LFPR increased from 50.7% in 2017-18 to 60.8% in 2022-23 while for urban areas it increased from 47.6% to 50.4%. 
  • LFPR for male in India increased from 75.8% in 2017-18 to 78.5% in 2022-23 and corresponding increase in LFPR for female was from 23.3% to 37.0%.
• WPR Status in Periodic Labour Force Survey
• • In rural areas, WPR increased from 48.1% in 2017-18 to 59.4% in 2022-23 while for urban areas it increased from 43.9% to 47.7%. 
  • WPR for male in India increased from 71.2% in 2017-18 to 76.0% in 2022-23 and corresponding increase in WPR for female was from 22.0% to 35.9%.
• UR  Status in Periodic Labour Force Survey
  • In rural areas, UR decreased from 5.3% in 2017-18 to 2.4% in 2022-23 while for urban areas it decreased from 7.7% to 5.4%. 
  • UR for male in India decreased from 6.1% in 2017-18 to 3.3% in 2022-23 and corresponding decrease in UR for female was from 5.6% to 2.9%.

News Source: PIB

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Context:

• This article is based on the news “Left Wing Extremism will be totally eliminated from country in 2 years, says Home Minister Amit Shah” which was published in the Indian Express. Officials said violent incidents in Naxalite-affected States have come down by 77% in 2022 in comparison to the high of 2010.

Recent News on Naxalism

• In April 2023, Ten personnel of the Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the civilian driver of their vehicle were reported killed in an IED attack by Naxalism-Maoist in the state’s Dantewada district.
• It was the biggest attack after the April 2021 ambush by Maoist in Chattisgarh’s Bijapur District in which 22 security forces (CRPF Black Cobra Commandos) personnel were killed.

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Red Corridor Shrinks: Steep Decline in Naxalism Violence in 2022

• The Red Corridor is the region in the central, eastern and southern parts of India that experience severe Naxalism–Maoist insurgency (Refer Map).
• Present Situation: There has been significant improvement in the LWE security situation in the country over the last five years.
• The year 2022 witnessed the lowest number of incidents of violence and deaths in Naxal-hit areas in the last four decades.
• Violent incidents in Naxalism-affected States have come down by 77% in 2022 compared to the high of 2010. The no. of districts affected dropped from 90 to 45.
• The number of deaths of security forces and civilians in LWE violence has also reduced by 90% in 2022 compared to the high of 2010, (98 in 2022 from 1005 in 2010).
• There were 17,679 LWE-related incidents and 6,984 deaths between 2004 and 2014.
• In contrast, there have been 7,649 LWE-related incidents and 2,020 deaths from 2014 to 2023 (till 15 June 23), the data showed.

What is Left-wing Extremism/Naxalism?

• Naxalism is a form of armed insurgency against the State motivated by leftist/Maoist ideologies and thus is also known as Left Wing extremism (LWE) or Maoism.

Origin Of Naxalism:

• Trigger Point: The origins of the LWE can be traced back to 1967 in the three areas of Naxalbari (from which the term Naxal originates), Phansidewa and Khoribari in West Bengal’s Darjeeling District.
• Initial Leader: The initial uprising was led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal, who were members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
• Nature of Initial Uprising: The initial uprising was in the form of a peasant revolt.
• Spread: Although originated in West Bengal, the movement spread to the less-developed rural regions of southern and eastern India, in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Today, almost all the Naxalism groups trace their origins to the CPI (M-L).

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ALSO READ: Extremism And Terrorism

Evolution Of Naxalism In India

ALSO READ: VARIOUS SECURITY FORCES AND THEIR MANDATE

What were the roots of the Naxalism movement?

• Land Related Factors: The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 forbids tribals who depend on forest goods for their livelihood from even harvesting a bark.
• Jal-Jangal-Jameen (3Js): Encroachment and occupation of govt. and community lands, Non-regularization of traditional land rights, Evading ceiling laws, Acquisition of land without appropriate compensation and rehabilitation etc
• Political Factors: Nature and apathy of the political system towards tribals remained one of the most important factors that led to such uprisings.
  • Inability of political authority towards the deprived sections of society in India to provide avenues for structural uplift in the affected states. 
• Economic Factors: A few problems include communication, access to energy, poverty, a lack of access to health care, a lack of awareness and education, and unemployment.
  • Income Gap: The gap in wealth between the wealthy and the poor is growing.(  The poverty levels in the Naxalism affected states of Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are much higher (with more than 40 percent of the population living below the poverty line).
  • Issues of agrarian community: The Maoists have included in their programme signing off the peasant’s debts, besides restoration of farm subsidies, investment in irrigation, proper prices of farm produce and restricting Multinational Companies.
• Environmental Degradation: Environmental degradation in the form of the destruction of land and water resources due to mining and industrial activities. For Example: Chhattisgarh Tribals Protest Against Coal Mines In Hasdeo Arand Region.
• Lack of basic facilities: Lack of basic facilities like education, freedom, sanitation and food.
  • The socially backward tribals form the major support base for Naxalism because of inequality, illiteracy and lack of opportunities.
• Governance Deficit: Regular administration, lack of state government action to solve the issue, absence of administration in remote areas, execution, and improper management of government initiatives.
• Social deficit: Violation of human rights, Abuse of dignity of life, Disconnect with mainstream society.

What are the steps taken by the government to stop Naxalism?

To holistically address the LWE problem effectively, the Government has formulated a National Policy and Action Plan (2015) adopting a multi-pronged strategy in security, development, ensuring rights & entitlement of local communities, etc.

• Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: This Scheme is being implemented as a sub-scheme of the Umbrella Scheme ‘Modernization of Police Forces’. The SRE Scheme aims to strengthen the LWE-affected States’ capacity to fight the LWE menace effectively. Under the scheme, Rs. 1930 crore have been released since 2017-18.
• Special Central Assistance (SCA) for most LWE-affected districts: it aims to fill the critical gaps in Public Infrastructure and Services, which are of an emergent nature. Rs. 3295 crore have been released to the States since 2017-18
• SAMADHAN- A Comprehensive Policy Tool: It is an integrated strategy that enables LWE to be successfully and fully combated. A collection of both short- and long-term policies developed at various levels.
• Operation Green Hunt (2010): Massive security force deployments were made in the naxalism-affected areas beginning in 2010.
• • Within nine years, the number of districts affected by Naxalism has decreased from 223 in 2010 to 90 today.
• Road Connectivity Project for LWE-affected Areas (RCPLWE): Under the scheme, 12100 km of roads and 701 bridges are sanctioned. 8124 km of roads and 306 bridge works have been completed.
• Aspirational District: The Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with monitoring the of Aspirational districts programme in 35 LWE-affected districts.

Way Forward: Converting Vicious Cycle Into A Virtuous Cycle Of Development

• Promoting Cooperative Federalism: Centre and states should continue with their coordinated efforts where the Centre should play a supportive role with state police forces taking the lead.
• Eliminate The Feeling Of Alienation From Tribals: Eliminate the root cause of the problem that is leading to the alienation of tribals in this area.
  • Forest Rights: Effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006.
• Financial Empowerment: Introduce measures to encourage the formation of ‘Self Help Groups’ (SHGs) and cooperative societies to improve access to credit and marketing and empower the disadvantaged.
• Leveraging The Use Of Technology: Such as micro or mini-UAVs or small drones, high-resolution PTZ cameras, GPS tracking, hand-held thermal imaging, radar and satellite imaging to minimize the loss of lives of security personnel.
• Open the channels for Political dialogues: With their domination being very weak and confidence low, it is the best time to have a peace dialogue with rebels.
• Learning from best Practices: Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh have been successful in minimizing Maoist activities to a large extent.
  • Similarly, as Chhattisgarh police have experience in tackling Maoists in Bastar, they are now coordinating with the bordering states to strengthen intelligence and ground presence.

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Conclusion

The socio-economic and political dynamics and aspirations of 21st-century India are far removed from the Maoist worldview. Further, an ideology based on violence and annihilation will fail in a democracy that offers legitimate forums for grievance redressal.

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Context:

• This article is based on the news “Economics Nobel 2023: How marriage, parenthood, and the pill impact women in the workforce” which was published in the Indian Express. Professor Claudia Goldin has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics 2023, for her comprehensive research on women’s contribution to the labour market.

Claudia Goldin; A 3rd Woman Scholar Awarded Nobel Prize in Economics

• Before her, only two women scholars — Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo in 2019 — had won this honor since 1969.
• This is only the 26th time when this prize has been awarded to a single laureate. 

What did Claudia Goldin win the Nobel Prize for?

• Claudia Goldin has been a pioneer in studying the role of women in the economy and has written several books on the topic, such as Understanding the Gender Gap: An Economic History of American Women (Oxford, 1990), and Career & Family: Women’s Century-Long Journey toward Equity (Princeton University Press, 2021).
• Her research reveals:
  • the causes of change and the main sources of the remaining gender gap.
  • The participation of married females decreased with the transition from an agrarian to an industrial society in the early nineteenth century, but then began to increase with the growth of the service sector in the early twentieth century.

What is the women employment rate in India ?

• According to Indian Census figures from 2011, there are 587 million women in India, accounting for 48 percent of the population. 
  • Despite this, only 29% of women over the age of fifteen participate in the labor.
• In India, the female labor participation rate had fallen to 20.3% in 2019 from more than 26% in 2005, according to World Bank estimates.  

Why is Women Labor Participation Important?

• Achieving $5 trillion economy target: Ensuring women comprise 50% of the labor force could be the best way for India to increase its GDP growth rate by 1% and touch the 8% growth it needs to become a $5 trillion economy by 2030,  as per World Bank estimates. 
• Gender Equality and Rights: Female’s economic empowerment includes female’s ability to participate equally in existing markets; their access to decent work which in turn promotes meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels from the household to international institutions.
• Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Empowering females in the economy and closing gender gaps in work are key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, to achieve gender equality, and Goal 8, to promote full and productive employment and Goal 10 on reducing inequalities.
• Women’s Economic Empowerment and Equality: Women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality in addition to other positive development outcomes.
  • For example, increasing the female employment rates in OECD countries to match that of Sweden, could boost GDP by over USD 6 trillion.

ALSO READ: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

What are the problem faced by women Labour?

• Gender Pay Gap: Men in India capture 82% of labor income, while women earn just 18%, according to the World Inequality Report 2022.
• Imposter syndrome: A 2020 KPMG study revealed that almost 75% of female executives across industries have faced imposter syndrome.
• • Imposter syndrome is a self-doubting tendency that leads an individual to feel skeptical and undeserving of their accomplishments.
• Difficult to overcome career gap: According to an Indeed survey, 67% of females respondents find it challenging  to re-enter the workforce.
  • Pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for children or the elderly are just a few personal reasons that frequently require more females than men to take a job break. 
• Barriers in leadership: The difficulty of juggling work and home obligations often prevents women from pursuing leadership positions. 
  • A recent McKinsey analysis claims only 21% of C-suite roles are really held by women. 
• Social Norms: Lack of proper family support is another issue for working females. Household work is still considered a duty of females only. 
• Covid-19 and women’s jobs: The lock-downs immediately impacted females, with 37.1 percent losing jobs (compared to 27.7 per cent for men) between April 2020 and April 2021, as per data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE)

What are the provisions for protection of women workers in India?

• Constitutional Provisions:
  • Article 15 includes provisions for females, children, and individuals who are socially and educationally disadvantaged. These provisions are not discriminatory in any way.
  • In matters of public employment, Article 16 guarantees equal opportunity. 
• The Code on Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions (OSH), 2020 has the provisions for the employment of women in the aboveground mines including opencast workings has been allowed between 7 pm and 6 am,                 
• Safety Measures: According to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013, every commercial or public organisation with 10 or more employees must have an internal complaints commission (ICC).
• Prohibition of Night Work: Section 66(1)(b) of the Factories Act, 1948 states that no woman shall be required or allowed to work in any factory except between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961: It regulates the employment of women in certain establishments for certain periods before and after child-birth and provides maternity benefits. 
• Vocational Training For Women: Under Directorate General of -Employment & Training Vocational training is provided in the form of  traditional and contemporary courses and certification to females to meet the trained skill workforce in the industry and service sector etc.

Also Read: Reservation Of Women In Legislature

Way Forward

• The International Labour Organisation suggests the following strategies to bridge the workforce gender gap:
  • Ensuring equal pay for work of equal value through legal protection, wage transparency, and gender-neutral job evaluation.
  • Addressing occupational segregation by challenging preconceived notions about the value of certain types of work
  • Implementing gender-responsive policies to safeguard women’s employment during economic downturns.
• Skilling, upskilling and reskilling: The true potential of demographic dividend cannot be harnessed if we do not ensure equal participation of females in the economy by skilling, upskilling and reskilling them.
• Bridge the Gender Gap:  if males and females are equally qualified or educated, they must enjoy equal employment opportunities and thus participate in the labor market equally.
  • For Example: Uttar Pradesh has the highest absolute number of workers – both men and women – 498.5 lakh and about 159.7 lakh respectively, however it also accounts for the largest gender gap of about 338.8 lakh people. 
• Promoting flexible working arrangements: The flexibility of hybrid work allows females to be more efficient and productive, to partake in additional training to support their careers, and to increase their visibility with senior leadership.
• Encourage women to enter traditionally male occupations: Growing evidence shows that females benefit from crossing into traditional male occupations, which pay better.  
  • In Uganda, women who moved into male-dominated sectors such as carpentry, electricals, and metal fabrication, made as much as men, and three times more than females who remained in female-dominated sector
• Providing training and development opportunities for women: The women SHGs should be converged with government schemes like National Rural Livelihood Mission for enhancing females participation in the workforce.

Conclusion:

Claudia Goldin, the third woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics, brings attention to the critical role of females in the workforce

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